In a lengthy new blog post, Divergent trilogy author Veronica Roth writes about about spending the day on the set of her book to film adaptation.

She also responds to yesterday’s news that Uriah won’t be in the first movie.

Veronica’s set visit

Roth writes with passion as she speaks about walking onto the set for the first time. We learn that she was there on the day they were filming the knife throwing scene.

“When I first got there, they were setting up to shoot the knife-throwing scene. (What a great day to go, right?) I spent a few seconds marveling at everything, then went back to “video village” (which is where director/producer/etc. types watch the filming on screens in real time, with headphones).

There, I abruptly got all misty-eyed, because THEY MADE ME A CHAIR. You know, one of those director’s chairs, with my name on it. It’s weird what kinds of things hit you the hardest in these situations. For me it’s usually the little things.

Shortly after that I met the Garrett, Master of Stunts and Fights (that’s not his official title, but it’s what I now call him in my mind), who told me about developing a particular fighting style for the movie and taught me the Dauntless stance. I even punched a punching bag. And nearly hurt my hand, because I am a marshmallow. (Garrett is not.)”

Roth got to see some other aspects of the production too. “I also got to see the Pit, a train car, and an Abnegation house, about which I can only say: !!! One of the best parts of the day was that I got to meet all the craftsmen who are working on the sets after seeing their impeccable work. I was so impressed with how much effort and thought went into everything I saw, so it was really fantastic to meet the people who were making it happen.”

No Uriah

At the end of her blog post, Roth responded to yesterday’s news that Uriah had not been cast for the first movie because they are saving him for the second. ” It is understandably disappointing when a favorite character doesn’t make it on screen. However, what I do think is encouraging is that the people working on the movie are taking the role of Uriah so seriously and taking so much care to get him right.”

Lauren cast

Actress Justine Wachsberger tweeted last night that she will be playing Dauntless member Lauren in Divergent.

Divergent will open in theaters March 21, 2014.